Being Evel

Reckless abandon and plenty of actual wrecks catapulted (or rocket blasted or bus jumped) daredevil Evel Knievel to superstardom in the 1970s. The documentary Being Evel, appropriately narrated and produced by Jackass star Johnny Knoxville, showcases Knievel's rebel spirit and death-defying highs without sugarcoating the difficult personality that also defined the man. Wearing a helmet isn't required while watching Being Evel, but it's recommended for safety reasons. Director Daniel Junge is scheduled to attend both screenings.

Screenings: May 28 at 6:30, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, $13 / May 30 at 2:30, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $13

Cartoonists: Foot Soldiers of Democracy

There's been increased attention paid to political cartoonists in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shooting and other targeted attacks on those who dare to express unrest though satirical drawings. Cartoonists: Foot Soldiers of Democracy follows 12 cartoonists from countries around the world, illustrating the societal importance of their work and the potential censorship and violence they face on a daily basis. The tone can get a touch sanctimonious at times (in case the title wasn't a dead giveaway), but the dedication of these artists despite the very real threats makes for compelling storytelling.

Screenings: May 28 at 3, AMC Pacific Place 11, $13 / May 29 at 6:30, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $11

Mr. Holmes

No longer the hotshot detective of Baker Street, an elderly Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) spends his days in rural Sussex with his housekeeper and her 14-year-old son. In the mildly meta reality of Mr. Holmes, the detective’s lore exists because of Dr. Watson’s memoirs, but Holmes finds it to be a rather fictionalized account. As his mind begins to fade, he struggles to sort through the details of his final case. Better have a festival pass if you want to see this one, as advance tickets are sold out. Actor Hiroyuki Sanada is scheduled to attend the May 29 screening.

Screenings: May 29 at 6:30, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, Sold Out / May 31 at 2:30, SIFF Cinema Uptown, Sold Out

All Things Must Pass

From its modest drugstore origins in Sacramento, Russ Solomon turned Tower Records into a billion-dollar global retail chain. And then the music industry crashed and Tower went bankrupt. All Things Must Pass goes behind the scenes and details the rise and fall of Tower, which parallels the music industry as a whole. Colin Hanks makes his directorial debut with this documentary featuring an all-star cast of interviewees: Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, David Geffen, ex-Tower employee Dave Grohl, and more. Director Colin Hanks and producer Sean Stuart are scheduled to attend both screenings.

Screenings: May 30 at 7, Harvard Exit Theatre, $13 / May 31 at 3, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $13

End of the Tour

David Foster Wallace's 1,079-page magnum opus Infinite Jest took the literary world by storm in 1996 and remains an touchstone novel well after the author's 2008 suicide. End of the Tour recounts Rolling Stone writer David Lipsky's five-day interview/Midwest road trip with Wallace as part of the Infinite Jest book tour. Jason Segal (Wallace) and Jessie Eisenberg (Lipsky) star in this adaptation of Lipsky’s memoir Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace that explores fame, friendship, and vulnerability through intellectual discourse.

Screenings: May 30 at 5:30, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, $15–$30 / May 31 at 2, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $13